Google wants new $249, ARM-based Chromebook to be your second computer

Google's calling it "the new Samsung Chromebook," giving it an A15 chip.

Google today announced a new Chromebook from Samsung with refreshed specs and a $249 price point, pitching the computer as an additional laptop for people who do their primary computing on a Windows or Mac computer. Think of it as a computer for your kitchen counter. The new device is the first Chromebook to use an ARM chip rather than an Intel one, which may well prove to be a better fit for what has historically been a niche device.

Google’s Chromebook has its fans, and it has seen adoption in school settings, but it hasn't achieved any sort of mass success. But Google has steadily improved both the software and hardware, earlier this year introducing the Aura interface that made viewing multiple windows at the same time possible. A few months later, the company announced software tweaks to the OS and the Chromebox, a desktop running Chrome OS. This time, though, it hopes to move away from the school-and-business market to users who want a simple extension of their home network.

The Samsung-made device is designed to be cheaper, faster, and easier to use than other comparable laptops. The company says the laptop will be much more widely available in brick and mortar stores starting next week (and you’ll start seeing jazzy new commercials from its new ad campaign tonight). The new laptop—which SVP of Chrome and Apps Sundar Pichai says will be simply called “the new Samsung Chromebook”—will be available in the US and UK only.

The specs

The $249 device is the first consumer-oriented laptop to ship with the A15 ARM chip from Samsung, the Exynos 5250 or "5 dual" chip. (This was designed to show great performance in smartphones and tablets.) Google went to lengths to differentiate its offering from Windows RT devices. Pinchai speculated that most Windows RT devices will be more expensive than the new Chromebook, while not operating on the newer A15. “Certainly some [Windows Devices] will be on A9," he noted.

The “New Samsung Chromebook” is Wi-Fi-only, weighs 2.5 pounds, and is 0.8 inches thick. The laptop also supports 1080p video at 30 fps for an 11.6” display. Google claims it has 6.5 hours of battery life. While previous Chromebooks have come with built-in 3G connectivity and a limited amount of free access from Verizon Wireless, the low price of the laptop makes the decision to include only Wi-Fi a lot more tolerable.

The computer comes with 16GB of flash storage, 2GB of RAM, and a free 100GB allotment of cloud storage on Google Drive for two years with the purchase of the new Chromebook. Google’s Pichai said, “We really want people to rely on keeping their information in Google drive so they have access to their information everywhere,” and naturally, extend Google’s reach to improve search.

The Chromebook will have a full-size keyboard and trackpad. It also lacks a fan—so it will be nice and quiet. The device comes with one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port.

The software updates

Google reminded the press that it updates its OS “every six weeks.” The newest iteration emphasizes one-click access to Google Play, as well as much-needed one-click access to a Windows or Mac machine (an improvement over previous remote-capabilities that were more difficult to use).

“We’ve really made it easy for consumers to remote into a Windows or a Mac machine,” Pichai said, referring to Chrome OS's remote desktop service. Google also noted it was making integration with Android phones and tablets more seamless, with a single sign-in to access various Android devices from the Chromebook and vice versa. For example, if you look up directions to a restaurant on the Chromebook, Google Now assumes that you’re going there and sends a notification to your phone. If you use your Chromebook to wirelessly print a flight boarding pass, Chrome OS can send that boarding pass to your phone.

Offline capabilities are somewhat improved in this version of Chrome OS as well. Any game or movie downloaded from Google Play can be accessed offline, and there’s a shortcut to editing and viewing Docs offline (an activity that has previously been slightly more difficult than it should have been). An offline version of Gmail is similarly available with one-click access.

Will it catch on?

Ars was able to play around with the new Chromebook, and it seems snappy and easy to use (look for a longer hands-on in the coming weeks). Samsung's casing does feel about as expensive as you'd imagine for a $249 laptop; the cheap plastic doesn't feel flimsy but it doesn't feel sleek either. The screen also leaves a little to be desired if you're used to an iPad, Kindle Fire, or something in a comparable market and price range.

As the SVP of Chrome and Apps noted, “people who actually live in the cloud have a really good experience.” That’s pretty consistent with how the Chromebook has always presented itself to its audience. But this time, the more robust offline capabilities and a slicker way to remote into a user’s primary desktop(s) will make the pitch for your dollars more respectable.

When asked whether the low-priced laptop can compete against tablets that do essentially the same thing, Pichai said the Chromebook does address a lot of the same needs a tablet does. But “students really need a device with a keyboard.” So how well would this laptop fare against a Macbook Air? That’s like "taking a Nissan leaf and comparing it to a Tesla Model X," Pichai said.

And, Pichai said, using it should be dead simple for even the least technical people: “You start using the computer, you sign in, [and] there’s pretty much nothing else you need to do. The only thing you need to do is charge the battery.”

Promoted Comments

I think I'm starting to suffer from EDS, "Electronic Device Saturation". Second computer? Hell, this would be a 4th or 5th in my case. Desktop at work, smart phone(android[which I do a hell of a lot on]), gaming PC & Laptop at the domicile.

The pie for consumer electronics is getting outlandishly narrowed into many pieces, with all the producers of these devices screaming theirs is best and can offer so much for people. That's fine, but if all of us were to keep it up, we'll have to start wearing bandoleers just to hold all of our devices, which really goes against one of the primary ideological properties of these items, compact and mobile. Might as well get the ruck sack out for all your stuff at this rate.

If you want to browse the internet and write quick emails you get a tabletIf you want to create content and run real apps you get a laptop/desktopIf you want to browse the internet and write long emails you get a chromebook?

No matter how you slice it this thing is operating in a pretty narrow niche. And why didn't google just use android which can browse the web and run apps if needed.

Sorry, bit off topic, but I can't tell you how convenient it is to have a small laptop sitting in the kitchen. I set up an old leveno x61 with ubuntu for this purpose some years ago and haven't regretted it a bit. One can reference recipies on the fly, check weather in the morning while waiting for coffee to brew, catch up on email, etc... Man, I love how technology is progressing and how common place they are now.

And, Pichai said, using it should be dead simple for even the least technical people: “You start using the computer, you sign in, [and] there’s pretty much nothing else you need to do. The only thing you need to do is charge the battery."

I think I'm starting to suffer from EDS, "Electronic Device Saturation". Second computer? Hell, this would be a 4th or 5th in my case. Desktop at work, smart phone(android[which I do a hell of a lot on]), gaming PC & Laptop at the domicile.

The pie for consumer electronics is getting outlandishly narrowed into many pieces, with all the producers of these devices screaming theirs is best and can offer so much for people. That's fine, but if all of us were to keep it up, we'll have to start wearing bandoleers just to hold all of our devices, which really goes against one of the primary ideological properties of these items, compact and mobile. Might as well get the ruck sack out for all your stuff at this rate.

If it were 5 years ago, I would think this is a pretty cool idea. I'd buy a couple of them, probably, as damn-near disposable computers to toss around the house. Less fussy than a Netbook with its traditional operating system entanglements.

But in the age of tablets, I'm less convinced. Perhaps it's Google's answer to the 7" versus 10" tablet dilemma: Buy a Nexus 7 for ultimate portability, buy a ChromeBook for when you need something a little beefier.

OK, that makes sense on some level, but I still feel like the ChromeBook occupies this really narrow niche between traditional ultraportable/ultrabook and a tablet, and I just don't think the use case is there anymore. Could be wrong! It's still a neat device. If I saw one pop up in the Agora a few months from now I might bite.

Could someone explain to me why a buyer would choose this Chromebook over the larger Kindle Fire, a netbook or the new iPad Mini.

Keyboard. I occasionally have to travel for events that require note taking. I had used an iPad early on, but my typing speed never caught up; I can't imagine it being on a 7-inch tablet. Also, transferring files (at the time) wasn't pleasant. The Chromebook has been my go to now. Full keyboard plus the Google Drive sync makes it quite perfect.

Tablets are still essentially toys. It's hard to do much serious work on them.

What student would be better off with a web browser, than a real laptop?

If you are in the market for a real laptop, you probably should look at them, not Chromebooks. They are supplemental computers, not primary machines.

Laptops are fine supplemental computers as well. What does this do that would recommend it over a laptop?

The "it has a keyboard" argument only gets you so far, when we already have a perfectly fine device with a keyboard.

The fact it weighs less, costs less and still does the same things is a pretty good argument.

At a release price of $250, I'll be diving on one when it hits sub-$200 without a doubt. Way too many times have I put down my tablet and wandered off to find my PC where a netbook device is really what I need.

Plus apparently some people have never tried to add a keyboard to an iPad. It's a pretty bad experience outside of a handful of apps, as you're still pressing the screen (there's no mouse, basically). You can do a lot with a mouse that you can't really do well on a vertical tablet.

The biggest thing for me will be that if I'm at home, I can remote log into my desktop and I basically have a windows laptop when I need it, something else that's a horrendous experience on a tablet.

Sorry, bit off topic, but I can't tell you how convenient it is to have a small laptop sitting in the kitchen. I set up an old leveno x61 with ubuntu for this purpose some years ago and haven't regretted it a bit. One can reference recipies on the fly, check weather in the morning while waiting for coffee to brew, catch up on email, etc... Man, I love how technology is progressing and how common place they are now.

That's all great and everything, but how is a tablet not a better device for that sort of usage? Especially now as $249 will get you a pretty nice tablet.

I bought a Samsung Series 5, the first retail Chromebook, at launch. Despite a distinct lack of performance and function outside of its little niche, it's been an invaluable travel companion. The biggest obstacle preventing me from recommending it to others had been the price; $500 was rather steep for a limited function device. At $250, that barrier is lifted. I'm curious to see how the Exynos 5-series performs; flash content, especially in HD, has been a rough spot on the 1st gen hardware.

Hmm, I've been looking at getting a tablet for a while, since I only have a desktop at the moment and it would be great to have something to quickly pull up a website with (as I don't have a smartphone either). Goodness knows that I would rather have a keyboard and track-pad than a touchscreen, so this may be what I've been looking for, cheap, yet incredibly functional and portable.

If you want to browse the internet and write quick emails you get a tabletIf you want to create content and run real apps you get a laptop/desktopIf you want to browse the internet and write long emails you get a chromebook?

No matter how you slice it this thing is operating in a pretty narrow niche. And why didn't google just use android which can browse the web and run apps if needed.

I thought the same until I started using one. I have had a CR-48 since their beta and I love it. Even for casual browsing I find it superior to my Nexus 7 as being able to type in comments, make posts, etc is much easier with a keyboard. The only thing in my normal routine of tasks that cannot accomplish on my Chromebook is encoding video and gaming. The convenience of Chrome and Google Drive was really unexpected and has made me a believer. The Drive Apps are getting more robust by the day.

That said, if you cannot easily live within the boundaries of Google's various services, things begin to get dicey.

Sorry, bit off topic, but I can't tell you how convenient it is to have a small laptop sitting in the kitchen. I set up an old leveno x61 with ubuntu for this purpose some years ago and haven't regretted it a bit. One can reference recipies on the fly, check weather in the morning while waiting for coffee to brew, catch up on email, etc... Man, I love how technology is progressing and how common place they are now.

That's all great and everything, but how is a tablet not a better device for that sort of usage? Especially now as $249 will get you a pretty nice tablet.

I find it easier not to have to prop up or hold a tablet for one. They do make special holders for the kitchen but then you have to fool around with installing one, and when you do it's no longer portable (as in moving it from counter to kitchen table if you wish, to make more room) In the kitchen stability is key as sometimes hands are a bit wet. The use of a physical keyboard (albeit it smallish) i find handy as well. It just works for me.

So, I was definitely a skeptic of the Chrome OS idea until I got the CR-48. 95% of what I do at home is on the web. For surfing the web, it is an ideal machine:

1. quiet (SSD drive, no fan)2. long battery life3. Instant on4. No updates to worry about5. No nags (our of space, buffer overflow, blue screen of death)6. Cloud focused (this could be a blessing or a curse, for me a blessing as I access content from multiple systems).7, Cheap8. Fast enough

If you look at your computer(s) as each having to do everything, then you are going to end up with the SUV of systems; ok at a lot of things, great at none. If you recognize that the world is moving to more specialized tools, the Chromebook makes a ton of sense.

As to Chromebook vs. tablet. It all comes down to how much you "create." I create enough that my chromebook is used far more often than my HP Touchpad running android. The chromebook is a stupid simple machine that is very well suited for living on the web. To some that's a curse (it doesn't do enough) for me it makes eminent sense as it does it's designed function far better than the windows, OSX and linux machines that I have lying about.

Bluetooth keyboards work on tablets. Thanks to HP's firesale on the touchpad, I have a very nice one I picked up or $15.

Quite true. In fact, I used one with the iPad for a little while. Hard to prop up the tablet and the keyboard on a lap comfortably, though. Some of the newer keyboard docks help solve that, but the all-in-one convenience of a laptop form factor has its advantages.